Our country has never seen such turmoil in most of our lifetimes. The economy, jobless rates, healthcare reform, viruses, wars and natural disasters have combined to take the wind from the sails of our progress. Most think we have taken big steps backwards.
With a recession, everything suffers. People cannot go out to eat, buy new cars or even new clothes. Worse yet, many children have suffered as well.
One area we cannot let children down with is education. Once we dig ourselves out of the hole we created, it is our youth that will be charged with the responsibility of rebuilding our nation and moving it in the right direction. But guess what? That’s not going to happen if we do not provide funding for school programs and rewards for teachers who help to create young minds.
Students will need to learn history to chart the new course for this world, but they will need to reinstate our one time superior knowledge of math, science and languages to conquer disease, discover new technologies and build alliances with other countries.
Teachers are the bridge to tomorrow and it is vital to give them the palate and tools to create exceptional students. Teacher Appreciation Week, held May 3-10 in 2010 is the best time to show educators as well as school support staff that we are behind them and recognize their achievements.
This is not a parent issue, but a full community committment for our future. Families, PTA/PTO organizations, school district administratos and municipal leaders must take command and organize teacher recognition events. Schools should be decorated and useful gifts and keepsakes should be given to every teacher and staff member. The feeling of appreciation will help build pride and motivate today’s educators to go above and beyond during difficult times.
Michael Lerner is a Marketing Director for Promos On-Time, a leading online retailer of promotional products and recognition gifts. He writes a series of blogs on marketing and employee rewards.
Creswell, J. W. (2007). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Gay, L. R. & Airasian, P. (2000). Educational Research: Competencies for analysis and application (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Huck S. W. (2008). Reading statistics and research. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Kritsonis, W.A., Griffith, K.G., Bahrim, C., Marshall, R.L., Herrington, D., Hughes, T.A. & Brown, V.E. (2008). Practical applications of educational research and basic statistics. Houston, TX. National Forum Journals. See: www.nationalforum.com
Trochim, W. M. K. & Donnelly, J.P. (2007). The research methods knowledge base (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: Thomson. This text can be accessed online at http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/
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Books – Articles – Lectures – Workshops, Dr. William Allan Kritsonis
Dr. Kritsonis lectures and conducts seminars and workshops on a variety of topics. He is author of more than 600 articles in professional journals and several books. His popular book SCHOOL DISCIPLINE: The Art of Survival is scheduled for its fourth edition. He is the author of the textbook William Kritsonis, PhD on Schooling that is used by many professors at colleges and universities throughout the nation and abroad.
In 2009, Dr. Kritsonis coauthored the textbook A Statistical Journey: Taming ofthe Skew. The book has been adopted by professors in many colleges and universities throughout the nation. It was published by the Alexis/Austin Group, Murrieta, California.
In 2008-2009, Dr. Kritsonis coauthored the book Effective Teaching in the Elementary School. First year teachers, as well as seasoned educators will find the chapters of this book packed with practical and workable solutions to typical classroom problems.
In 2007, Dr. Kritsonis’ version of the book of Ways of Knowing Through theRealms of Meaning (858 pages) was published in the United States of America in cooperation with partial financial support of Visiting Lecturers, Oxford Round Table (2005). The bookis the product of a collaborative twenty-four year effort started in 1978 with the late Dr. Philip H. Phenix. Dr. Kritsonis was in continuous communication with Dr. Phenix until his death in 2002.
In 2007, Dr. Kritsonis was the lead author of the textbook Practical Applicationsof Educational Research and Basic Statistics.The text provides practical content knowledge in research for graduate students at the doctoral and master’s levels.
Dr. Kritsonis’ seminar and workshop on Writing for Professional Publication has been very popular with both professors and practitioners. Persons in attendance generate an article to be published in a refereed journal at the national or international levels.
Dr. Kritsonis has traveled and lectured throughout the United States and world-wide. Some recent international tours include Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Monte Carlo, England, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Poland, Germany, and many more.
Dr. Kritsonis Recognized as Distinguished Alumnus
In 2004, Dr. William Allan Kritsonis was recognized as the Central Washington University Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus for the College of Education and Professional Studies. Dr. Kritsonis was nominated by alumni, former students, friends, faculty, and staff. Final selection was made by the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Recipients are CWU graduates of 20 years or more and are recognized for achievement in their professional field and have made a positive contribution to society. For the second consecutive year, U.S. News and World Report placed Central Washington University among the top elite public institutions in the west. CWU was 12th on the list in the 2006 On-Line Education of “America’s Best Colleges.”
The multisensory teaching methods implemented in Child1st products ensure that every child is successfully reached. With products like its multisensory reading programs and extensive range of learning aids, Child1st makes the achievement of long-lasting education easier to accomplish than ever before for any child.
Child1st believes that many learning difficulties can be overcome if properly addressed. To this end, Child1st has performed extensive research about the most successful learning methods for “non-traditional students” and implemented them into its catalog of educational products, programs, and more. Through its online blog, teaching products and virtual store, the team behind Child1st is always seeking to provide visitors with further information and techniques in a continued commitment toward maintaining its place as one of the premier special education resources available.
Multisensory reading programs work well for children that learn best through visual-spatial experiences, including those labeled with learning disabilities such as ADD, ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. A multisensory learning experience is very different from traditional teaching methods that are often geared toward left brained, sequential learners. Children are traditionally taught in a manner that ignores the unique requirements of visual-spatial learners and leads to the perception of learning disabilities in some that simply require an approach that addresses their non-sequential learning style. Visual-spatial learners are completely capable of excelling when information is presented in a way that addresses their needs. One such approach that often leads to fantastic results is a holistic approach that shows the child the relationship between whole and part, and utilizes images, tactile and kinesthetic learning tools. The multisensory reading program is just one out of the array of Child1st’s special education resources that use a holistic approach.
Child1st incorporates a multisensory approach in the Easy-for-Me™ Reading Program in order to allow every student to benefit from a method of education aimed at their visual-spatial strengths. The Easy-for-Me™ Reading Program provides teachers with an array of multisensory activities to teach non-sequential learners to read. By following the reading program with its various parts (such as the visual SnapWords™ card system and Easy-for-Me™ readers) educators can give visual-spatially oriented children a learning foundation that leads to lifelong success and a true love of learning.
Child1st’s online store makes it easy for educators to take advantage of the company’s special education resources. The business has made its entire catalog of products available, bringing convenient online shopping and a wealth of information on each item to its customers. Child1st also hosts a regularly updated blog that details breakthroughs in the field of special education and provides explanations for crucial terms.
Multisensory reading programs can help every child discover their potential. Begin experiencing the difference that Child1st’s special education resources can make in any student’s life by visiting the company at its online home today.
For more information on Child1st and its special education resources, visit child-1st.
Child-1st Publications LLC is a publisher of children’s sight words books and special needs learning materials. For more information, visit www.Child-1st.com.
Child1st carefully designs multisensory materials for kinesthetic learners and children with other learning differences. The company focuses on providing only proven solutions for children who learn most easily through kinesthetic and other methods. Because most of Child1st’s products engage all of a child’s senses, the materials enable instructors to help every student to perform at their very best.
Child1st was founded with the goal of creating products that meet each child’s unique learning requirements. The company believes that every child is capable of learning and only requires the right method. By creating solutions and providing educators with tools targeted at kinesthetic learners, tactile learners, children with dyslexia, ADD, and ADHD, Child1st strives to give every child the gift of a love of education and the lifelong benefit of learning to read.
Children learn not only at school or with an online tutor; they also learn from their parents. Home, after all, is the first school that your child begins his education at. Parents can contribute to their child’s progress by doing small things that can really make a difference. Considering the fact that most couples do a none-to-five job, it becomes tedious for them to find time for their children. Still, with a little effort, you can help your child grow into a responsible, smart citizen.
The following tips would surely come handy:
Read with your Child
Parents should ensure that they spend some time daily with their child reading. Start with story books and gradually switch over to books on general knowledge, history, arts, and science. You can also ask your child to read out aloud an excerpt from a story book or a newspaper article. Next comes discussing the content with your child. You can ask about the characters mentioned in the story you two just finished.
